Reliving Chapter 2
Here's chapter 2! Thank you SOOOO much everyone for reviewing, favouriting or following this fanfiction. It means so much to me that people actually enjoy my writing.
Hope you enjoy this and sorry about the wait… It's still test/assignment week at school.
[This Chapter has been rewritten]
The school was becoming a mad house by each minute as kids were pouring out of their classrooms. Many were yelling out of fear of the loss of adults, Internet or phone signals, or out of joy for the unlimited freedom the lack of adults resulted in.
Back in an eighth-grade classroom, Sam was standing in front of his classmates pleading to a confused Astrid while curious eyes watched.
'Astrid I need you to come with me. I need to talk to you.' Sam begged.
'Why should I?' she answered.
Instead of replying, Sam, realising that he currently held the attention of his entire class, gently tried to lead Astrid by her arm out of the room in case anyone tried to eavesdrop. On the other hand, Astrid didn't budge at all and was so close to raging out of annoyance before Sam whispered something very faint that only she could hear.
'I know what's happening but I need to tell you somewhere else, away from everyone.'
Astrid stood still trying to decide whether to trust him. She had hardly talked to him and only knew him as 'School Bus Sam', the boy who saved everyone's life. However her curious side won out and she walked out of the room in silence with Sam's grip still on her forearm.
'You have got some explaining to do,' Astrid said as they stood outside the class door.
Sam was about to reply until Quinn came bounding after them promptly. Suddenly, he remembered the time his best friend had betrayed him. If Sam told Quinn everything he knew there was a possibility that he might betray him and tell all the information to Caine later during the FAYZ. He turned around to face his friend.
'Sorry brah, but this is kinda between me and Astrid.' Sam said.
'Actually it's Astrid and I,' corrected Astrid who soon bit her lip afterwards realising that this was not the time.
Quinn furrowed his brows in disappointment.
'Look, I'll let you know later.' Sam compromised. 'In the meantime why don't you make sure no one is doing anything stupid, kay? Especially since it's very likely none of the other teachers are in the other classrooms.'
'No way that's so lame!' Quinn replied.
Sam shrugged. 'Just a thought.'
Knowing that Sam's excuse wasn't going to be very successful, Astrid sighed deeply. 'Look Quinn, this "chat" is about... our... relationship.' She said the last part with much reluctance - and newfound annoyance now that Sam started to beam brightly.
'Ohhhh...' Quinn trailed.
'Yeah,' Sam justified, playing along.
'All good then, I'll just leave you two alone now.'
And with that, a cheekily grinning Quinn left Sam and Astrid.
'For the record, I did not mean what I said to Quinn. It was purely just so I could hear what you had to say, alright?' Astrid justified.
Sam smiled slightly. 'You're the boss.'
Just then, Sam's classmates were shuffling out the door, trying to find siblings, friends or some answers. Sam spotted a puzzled Edilio striding out the door and instinctively grabbed the Honduran by the arm.
'Hey!' Edilio said with surprise.
'Uh, what are you doing Sam?' asked Astrid a little alarmed.
Sam ignored her. 'I need to talk to you too.'
'What?' Edilio asked, still confused.
Sam then led the two and pulled them away to a nearby classroom that was already abandoned.
'Ok, I believe you've got some explaining to do,' said Astrid.
'Explain what?' Edilio asked still completely clueless.
'Both of you need to listen to me. I know I haven't really talked to you but you need to trust me on this. You are two are the only ones I can also trust right now,' Sam began. 'Ok, so as you may have noticed, the teachers have poofed. Disappeared. Whatever you want to call it. Some students have also poofed to. You know why? It's because the FAYZ has started.'
'A what?' Edilio asked.
'A FAYZ – Fallout Alley Youth Zone - is a dome that was created over Perdido Beach. It also caused people 15 and over to disappear.'
Sam left a silence, letting the information sink in.
'This would explain why the guys in my class disappeared,' Astrid mumbled quietly. 'They were 15.'
Edilio stared back at Sam with empty eyes.
'And this is all happening because of one person.' Sam continued before pointing at Astrid. 'Your brother, Little Pete, is causing this Astrid.'
At the mention of this accusation, Astrid jumped up to her feet and grabbed Sam by the collar.
'What do you mean this is Pete's fault?' she yelled. 'He's done nothing! He's just a 5 yr old autistic boy. He can't be causing this! I don't believe you!'
Being Edilio, Edilio quickly jumped between the two.
'Guys calm down!' he commanded. 'We don't need a fight. Astrid let go of him.'
'Astrid,' Sam said calmly. 'It was your brother. I know about the time Pete suddenly moved to a different room after you yelled at him. He's used the same power to create the FAYZ.'
Astrid loosened her grip out of shock.
'How do you know about this? I've never told anyone about it!' she said with a quiver in her voice.
'Because,' Sam started. 'I've already lived through the entire FAYZ. I know what's going to happen because I already went through all this. But for some reason I'm back here again.'
Edilio rubbed his forehead. 'Sorry man, but you expect us to believe this?'
'No. That's why I'll prove it to you.' Sam turned to Astrid. 'Astrid, I know your brother has powers because many other people in the FAYZ also had them. Including me.'
Sam took a step back and held out his hand as Astrid and Edilio watched. Though he hadn't used his powers in a long time, Sam concentrated hard and watched as a small green Sammy Sun was slowly being formed.
'There,' Sam breathed.
Edilio and Astrid watched with mouths gaping a few seconds of stunned silence, Sam deactivated the sun promptly before concentrating hard to shoot a beam of brilliant green light aimed at some teacher's coffee mug. The mug caught on fire and melted away before burning the flame out.
'Y-y-your powers,' Edilio stammered.
'I don't believe it…' Astrid said.
'Don't believe me? I can still prove all this is true.' Said Sam. 'Come with me, I'll show you the dome. The thing that's keeping us trapped here.'
And with that, Sam directed a mesmerised Astrid and Edilio out of the classroom. On his way he saw Quinn who was checking out one of the fifth- grade classrooms.
'Guys, don't swing on the fan!' Sam heard Quinn shout.
'Huh, he actually took my advice.' Sam thought.
Carefully avoiding his best friend, Sam maneuvered Astrid and Edilio out of the school, which was slowly being emptied out as kids huddled up in groups walking home. The trio hurriedly walked towards Clifftop with Sam leading the way. They eventually got to the entrance.
Astrid scanned her eyes for the dome. 'If there's a dome why can't I see it?'
'The dome plays some kind of illusion on you that allows you to see the sun which really isn't there at all. It's kinda hard to explain but you'll know once you see it up close.' replied Sam.
The trio finally made it out to the empty tennis courts of Clifftop. They walked closer towards it until right in front of them was a large grey barrier that split half of a tennis court.
'This is your proof,' Sam said. 'But don't touch it-'
Ignoring the warning, Edilio reached out his hand and touched the barrier.
'Ow! It's hot!' he yelped shaking his hand up and down. After examining his hand for any permanent burns he turned to Sam. 'You really were telling the truth.'
'That's because I've already lived through the FAYZ. I know what's going to happen. But I need you two to trust me and help me stop the terrible things that will happen in here.'
Edilio stared at Sam with intent in his eyes. 'I… I trust you now.'
Sam nodded thankfully. 'Astrid?'
'I don't know, it just doesn't make sense why all this is happening!' she exclaimed. 'It's bending all the laws of physics! And I don't get how you suddenly time travelled back to this FAYZ. Why are you the only one reliving it?'
Sam shook his head. 'I don't know. But either way, I need you to trust what I'm saying is true.'
Astrid slowly nodded her head. 'I trust you.'
'Thank you,' Sam replied.
'So what do we do now?' Edilio asked.
'At this stage we should probably go get Astrid's little brother since that's what happens next.' Sam said.
Astrid opened her mouth ready to speak.
'And no, Pete's at the Power Plant, not in Clifftop.' said Sam, a little too forcefully.
Astrid closed her mouth as Sam spoke.
'Let's go,'
Motioning with his hands for the two to follow him, Sam lead the group to the Power Plant via the plaza. On his way he saw many kids wandering around the road decorated by crashed cars.
'I'm guessing those are from the poofed adults?' Astrid inferred.
'Yup,' Sam replied.
As they continued their way, Edilio and Astrid were pelting him with many questions.
'So what happens after we get Pete?'
'What kind of things happen in the FAYZ?'
'What will happen with the little kids?'
'Why are we the most trustworthy?'
'Who should we stand clear of?'
'What's the worst thing that happens here?'
Sam was about to answer all these questions when he suddenly smelt a heavy aroma of smoke. He looked around trying to find the source of the smell when his brain suddenly connected the dots. Nearby, the apartment store near the day care centre was burning on fire.
'Look, the fire!' Edilio pointed out.
Instinctively, the three ran towards the burning building. Sam was the first to reach the scene where a group of kids were gathered around paralysed by shock. He ran in through the crowd and stopped at the entrance of the apartment that was releasing unhealthy amounts of smoke. It was then Sam heard the wail of what appeared to be a young girl. Fueled by concern and adrenaline, he dangerously approached the building. By then Edilio and Astrid had arrived at the scene. Just as Sam was about to go in the building, Edilio grabbed him from the back.
'What was that for?' Sam exclaimed.
'Dude,' Edilio pointed at the nearby fire station. 'I think that'll be a lot safer.'
Sam smiled, impressed. 'Now this is why I'm glad to have you by my back.'
Sam, Edilio and Astrid ran towards the fire station where they tried to grab a fire hose while curious eyes were helplessly glued on them. Just as he was helping untangle the hose, Sam suddenly remembered the little girl that caused this havoc somewhere in the apartment. What if she lived? Wouldn't she just unknowingly use her powers and wreak havoc? Wouldn't Caine manipulate her for his purposes?
Sam sighed deeply. 'Am I really doing the right thing?'
Not much of a cliff hanger, I know. But i still hope you enjoyed that chapter! Please let me know of your thoughts by reviewing. All ideas are absolutely welcome ;)
Till the next chapter!
